Releasable coupling for aviator or parachute harness



March 4,1924. 1,485,747

' D.M.WARNER HELEASABLE COUPLING FOR AVIATOR OR PARACHUTE HARNESS FiledMarch 2 1922 avvve'ntoz DAVID Iii". "VVAENER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

RELEASABL'E COUPLING AVIATOR OR- PAlt-ACHUTE HARNEQS.

- Application filed March 2, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID WARNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio. haveinvented certain new and use ful Improvements in Releasable Couplingsfor Aviator or Parachute Harness, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a releasable coupling device particularlyuseful in attaching the harness worn by an aviator to a parachute andpermitting a quick release when the circumstances require, but capablealso of general application.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a coupling devicewhich will hold firmly and securely unless positively released, thereleasing action taking place very quickly.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described in connection with theaccompanying drawings. Objects of a more specific nature will becomeapparent in the description and the essential characteristics aresummarized in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the coupling device, the supporting andload rings being shown in section:

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

The numeral designates a channel shaped member having an axial slot 11formed through a part of the length thereof.

At the forward end of the member 10 the side flanges are wider than atthe rear and the extreme forward ends of the flanges are provided withtransversely aligning recesses 12 which are defined by cam-shapedsurfaces 13, 14.

A lever member 15, preferably a casting or forging, is positionedbetween the side flanges of the channel 10 and is intermediately pivotedthereto by means of a pin 16 which passes through registeringaperturesin said members. The member is provided with a rear extension17 of less thickness than the body portion thereof. The rear extensionprojects downwardly through the slot 11 and the lower end thereof isenlarged at 18 to a greater width than said slot in order to preventthis head 18 from passing through the slot. The head 18 thus limits theclosing movement of the pivoted members. The forward end of the leverSerial No. 540,558.

member 15 is hook-shaped as indicated at 19, and this hook is adapted tocooperate with the recesses 12 in retaining a ring 20 in operativeposition. The ring 20 is attached to the harness of the aviator.

The rear end of the channel 10 is reinforced by a cross-piece 21 weldedto the flanges and web of the channel so as to close effectively theslot 11. A ring 22 is attached to a sustaining surface or support suchas a parachute by means of the ropes thereof, and is assembled with thelever members 10 and 15 so that its operative position will be at theintersection of rear extension 17 and the flanges of channel 10, asshown in Figure 1. A leaf spring 23 is riveted at one end to the levermember 15 and bears at the other end upon the web of channel mem ber 10,thus normally tending to maintain the hook 19 in closed relation to there-- cesses 12.

In case a load is suspended on the coupling device, as when an aviatoris dropping by means of a parachute, it is very diflicult to press thelever members together, as the load tends to keep them in closedposition. However, when the aviator desires to obtain release from theparachute, he may grasp the ropes of the latter and momentarily lifthimself in order to relieve the coupling device of the load. Theportions of the lever members in the rear of pin 16 may then be readilypressed together and the cam-shaped surfaces 13, 14 will aid inexpelling the ring 20 from engagement with the hook 19. If the aviatordesires to wait until the ground is reached he may do so, as whencontact with the ground is made, tension on the fastening device islessened and the lever members may be readily pressed together so as torelease the load ring 20. This quick release prevents the aviator frombeing dragged along the ground by the parachute on the completion of thedescent.

I claim:

1. A releasable coupling device comprising, in combination, pivotedmembers, means engaged by said members for attachment to a support,means releasably engaged by said members for attachment to a load, saidfirst named means being engaged by said members in such a manner thatthe load will tend to prevent release of said second named means, andresilient means tending to prevent release of said second named meansupon release of the tension due to the load,

2. A releasable coupling device comprising in combination, pivotedmembers, means engaged by said members for attachment to a support,means releasably engaged by said members for attachment to a load, saidfirst named means being engaged by said members in such a manner thatthe load Will tend to prevent release of said second named means, andmanually compressible resilient means tending to prevent release of saidsecond named means upon release of the tension due to the load.

3. A releasable coupling device, a channel member having recesses in theflanges thereof, and a slot formed in the Web, a lever member pivotedthereto having a hook adapted to open and close said recesses, a curvedextension of said lever member passing through said slot, means on theend of said lever member for limiting the closing member of said hook,means adapted to be attached to a load and to be held in said recessesby said hook, and means engaged between said curved lever extension andsaid Web and adapted to be attached to a support.

l. A releasable coupling device, a channel member having recesses in theflanges thereof, and a slot formed in the Web, a lever member pivotedthereto having a hook adapted to open and close said recesses, a curvedextension of said lever member passing through said slot, means on theend of said lever member for limiting the closing motion of said hook,means adapted to be attached to a load and to be held in said re cessesby said hook, means engaged between said curved lever extension and saidWeb and adapted to be attached to a support, and manually compressibleresilient means adapted to hold said load attaching means upon releaseof the tension of the load on the holding members.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

DAVID M. WARNER.

